docs: def user(self):
          """gets the user properties"""
          if self._user is None:
              url = "%s/users/%s" % (self.root, self._username)
              self._user = CMPUser(url=url,
                                   securityHandler=self._securityHandler,
                                   proxy_port=self._proxy_port,
                                   proxy_url=self._proxy_url,
                                   initialize=False)
          return self._user